Webb plan for needle swap hit

Councilman frets
over liability to city

By Mike O'Keeffe
Rocky
Mountain News Staff Writer

A legal needle exchange program will encourage
drug use and crime and expose
the city to lawsuits, Denver Councilman Ed
Thomas said Wednesday.

"I understand that this is an effort to rein in the
problem of the AIDS
crisis," Thomas said. "But we're focusing on just one
aspect of this
tragedy."

Mayor Wellington Webb said during Tuesday's
State of the City address that
he'll lobby the City Council and state
legislature to legalize needle
exchange programs. Proponents say such
programs reduce the spread of AIDS and
other diseases.

The programs allow
drug users to exchange used needles for clean ones.
Clients would also
receive information about treatment for addictions,
proponents of a Denver
needle exchange said.

Thomas, however, said authorities should focus on
sobriety.

"At some time in a person's life, they have to take
responsibility for their
actions," Thomas said. "As a munincipality, we're
sending a mixed message.
We're saying, 'We don't want you to do drugs. But
if you have to, here's a
needle. We want you to do it in a clean
environment.'"

Most drug addicts, Thomas said, fund their habits by
criminal activity.

"How many houses have to be broken into? How much
shoplifting has to go on?
Coming home to find your home has been burglarized
is a real kick in the
stomach. What do we tell those people?"

"They say
if we can save one human life, it is worth it. But I say no.
There's a cost
they're not considering."

Thomas worries that the city could be
successfully sued if an addict
overdosed with a needle provided through an
exchange program. "Where does our
liability begin? Has anybody asked that
question?"

"Who is to say they'll use the clean needle anyway?" Thomas
asked. "If these
people are irresponsible enough to use heroin, why do we
think they'll become
responsible if we give them a clean
needle?"